“60 Minutes” said former President Donald Trump is spreading lies that the program’s interview with his Democratic challenger, Vice President Kamala Harris, was deceptively edited.
The show put out a statement Sunday night as Trump continues to rage against Harris’ interview. He has called the discussion a “giant fake news scam,” saying the interview was edited to make her look better and threatening to sue CBS for its coverage.
The network issued a vehement denial of those claims, saying it had edited Harris’ full 45-minute interview to fit into a 20-minute segment on “60 Minutes.” The show provided an extended version of one answer to another CBS show earlier in the day, which has become a lightning rod for Trump’s criticism, but said the context of her answers was not altered.
The program also noted noted Trump himself was scheduled to appear for an interview — as presidential candidates have for 50 years — but backed out.
“60 Minutes gave an excerpt of our interview to Face the Nation that used a longer section of her answer than that on 60 Minutes,” the program said in a statement. “Same question. Same answer. But a different portion of the response.”
“When we edit any interview, whether a politician, an athlete, or movie star, we strive to be clear, accurate and on point. The portion of her answer on 60 Minutes was more succinct, which allows time for other subjects in a wide ranging 21-minute-long segment.”
CBS has also released a full transcript of the Harris interview.
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“60 Minutes” went on to reissue its invitation to the former president to appear on the program.
“Remember, Mr. Trump pulled out of his interview with 60 Minutes and the vice president participated,” the show said. “Our long-standing invitation to former President Trump remains open.”
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“If he would like to discuss the issues facing the nation and the Harris interview, we would be happy to have him on 60 Minutes.”